Pyrophoric lighter



Oct. 25, 1960 A. B. GELLMAN PYROPHORIC LIGHTER 3 Sheets-sheaf. 1

Filed April 10, 1957 i |l W m 1 m W33 tie. 3.89 o d d- 2mm 1 I LL m Qlzzrz r II zz/ 1/A/l/d my w M y Oct. 25, 1960 A. B. GELLMAN PYROPHORICLIGHTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1957 INVENTOR. MK 7/4440 /1']BY J J Worn/4e 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

a flai/we a Oct. 25, 1960 A a. GELLMAN PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Filed April10, 1957 United States Patent PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Allen B. Gellman,Glencoe, Ill. Elgiu American, Inc., 853 Dundee Ave., Elgin, Ill.)

Filed Apr. 10, 1957, Ser. No. 651,976

Claims. (Cl. 67-7.1)

:This invention relates to a pyrophoric lighter.

A common form of pyrophoric lighter is one having a container forholding fluid fuel and a wick element extending through the wall of thecontainer to have an inner end submerged in the fuel within thecontainer and an outer end disposed for igniting of the fuel deliveredthrough the wick. A common defect in such lighters is that the outer endof the wick is exposed to atmosphere even though it may be covered, asby a snuffer cap, so that over a period of time the fuel is evaporatedfrom the container.

Another disadvantage in the pyrophoric lighters now found in the art isthat no completely satisfactory means is available for indicating thelevel of the fuel in the lighter where the fuel container housing issubstantially opaque.

A principal feature of this invention is to provide a new and improvedpyrophoric lighter obviating the disadvantages discussed above. Anotherfeature is the provision of a pyrophoric lighter having means forcontrolling the communication between the wick and the fuel supplywithin the lighter to prevent transfer of fuel therebetween when thelighter is not in use.

i A further feature of the invention is the provision of a valvecontrolled enclosure surrounding the portion of thewick within the fuelcontainer, for providing alternate communication and non-communicationof the wick and fuel supply, as desired.

Still another feature is that valve means are associated with theenclosure to be operated by means exteriorly of the enclosure. Yet afurther feature is that the means ex- 'ter ior of the enclosure comprisethe means for snuifing a flame on the exterior portion of the wick. Yetanother feature is that the valve means is biased to an open positionwhen the snufier is removed from association with the exposed wick end,with the biasing means being overcome by the snufier cap when thesnuifer is disposed in the flame snufling position relative to theexposed wick end.

, A further feature of the invention is the provision of a pyrophoriclighter having such means for controlling the communication between thewick and fuel supply, wherein the fuel container is separable from thelighter. Still another feature is that the fuel container is disposable. Yet another feature is the provision in such a lighter of new andimprovedmeans for removably retaining the separable container inassociation with the lighter.

" .Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of apyrophoric lighter having a container provided with anelongated openingextending between the lowest and highest levels of the fluid fuel supplytherein and a light transmitting means sealingly secured to thecontainer across the opening for viewing the interior of the containerto gauge the level of fuel therein. Still another feature is that thewindow means may comprise a tubular .member arranged to receive aportion of the fuel there- Patented Oct. 25, 1960 p Yet a furtherfeature of the invention is the provision of a pyrophoric lighter havingmeans for controlling the communication between the Wick and fuel supplywherein the fuel supply is retained in a transparent container removablyreceived in an opaque outer shell which is 7 provided with meansautomatically correlated with the communication controlling means toallow gauging ofthe level of fluid associated with said controllingmeans.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. l is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinallythrough the lighter;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary Sectional view of the lighter, generally similarso that of Fig. 1 but with the mechanism thereof in another position; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of the lighter showing the liquidlevel indicator thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of liquidlevel indicator.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, side elevation of another form of lighter, withportions thereof broken away;

Fig. 7 is an end view thereof, with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a reduced, side elevation of a disposable fuel container foruse with the lighter of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in Figs. 1 to5 of the drawings, a pyrophoric lighter generally designated 10 is shownto comprise a container 11 arranged to hold a body of fluid fuel 11 forsaturating a wick 12. Forming the upper sealing closure member ofcontainer 11 is a deck 13 through which wick 12 extends and throughwhich is provided a filling opening 14 for replenishing the supply offuel 11 within container 10 when desired. Suitable closure means 14::are provided for sealingly closing opening 14. Mounted on deck 13 is anoperating or igniting mechanism 15 including a flint 16, an abradantwheel 17 in spark-producing relationship with flint 16, a snuifer cap18, and a spring-biased thumb piece 19 for operation of wheel 17 a andsnufler cap 18. The specific construction of igniting mechanisms isWell-known in the art, an example of such being that disclosed in mycopending application Ser. #444,492, filed July 20, 1954, now Patent No.2,791,110.

Operating mechanism 15 is provided with a lower support or cradle 15ahaving a spring tongue 15b adapted to snap under an inwardly projectingcatch 13a of the deck for holding the operating mechanism in place. Amanually operable tab is provided on the cradle generally oppositetongue 15b for use in removing mechanism 15 when desired.

As indicated above, wick 12 extends from the interior of container 11 tothe exterior thereof, passing through an opening 20 in deck 13 and aregistered opening 15d in cradle 15a. An end 12a of the wick extends toa low point within the container so that, in normal use, at least someportion of the wick may have communication with fuel 11'. However, asindicated above, means, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are provided forpreventing this communication when the lighter is not in use. For thispurpose, a tubular enclosure 21 having an internal diametersubstantially greater than the diameter of Wick 12 is disposed inconcentric surrounding relationship to the wick. Enclosure 21 is securedto deck 13 by means of a flange 13a depending from deck 13 aroundopening 20. An inner end 21a of tube 21 is closed except for a smallport 22 which provides the passage for fuel 11 from the interior ofcontainer 11 to the interior of the enclosure 21.

For controlling port 22 a valve 23 is provided having an elongatedtubular stem 24 in intimate surrounding relationship to wick 12. One ormore apertures 24a are providedin stem 24 within enclosure 21. to permit.passageof fuel from the space between valve vstern 24 and enclosure 21to wick 12. "Stem 24 terminates short' of theouter end 12b of wick -12whe r ebytheexposed end 12b'may be ignited by mechanism 15; Ontheoliter'end of stem-2 4 isfixedlysecured an. annular collar '25. arranged to be engaged by snufiercapls, when the cap is in the flameextinguishing position of 'Fig. Land yieldingly urged by the snuffertoward deck 13. As the collar is fixed to'stem 24, thesterriis'resultingly'moved' longitudinally inwardly 'so that valve" 23 isseated infport 22; To guide-valve stem 23 and collar 25in thislongitudinal movement and maintain alignment of .valve 23with' port 22,an annular bushing '26LisYseci1redto deck 13 and through opening 20. f ra When the lighter is operated and snuffer cap 18 'is removed fromengagement with-collar 25,it. is desired that valv'e'23'be opened topermit shower fuel into enclosure 21 to replenish the fuel in'wick '12.To this endjsprin'g means such as helical spring 27 isprovided to urgethe valve stem 24 longitudina'll'y outwardly. For this purpos'efa'nannular boss 24b 'is provided on valve'ste'm 24, wherebyspring 27 mayextend under suitable compression between the boss and enclosure end2121. .The'outward movement of the valve stem'is limited'by the abutmentof an'annular washer 28, on the valve stem and outwardly juxtaposed toboss 24!), with the inner "end 26a of'bushing26.. f a

While the means for urging snutier cap '18't'o' the' flame extinguishingposition may be of any suitable type well known in the art, it is hereindisclosed as a spring 19a. lnthe functioning of the instant invention,it'is only necessary that the effect ofspring 27 be'we'aker thanthejeffect 35f spring 17a so that spring 27 may be overcome by theaction of spring 19a. r V i V V 'In use, thumb piece 19 ismanuallydepressed, thereby raising-snuffer cap 18 and operating wheel.17 againstflint 16 to produce a spark for igniting outer end 12b of the wick. Themovement of'c-ap 18 away from collar 25 allows spring 27 to move thevalve stem 24 longitudinally outwardly. and unseat valve 23. Thispermits a quantity of fuel 11 to pass into enclosure21, throughapertures 24a, and, by 'capillarity, through wick -12 to g'outer end12b. When thumb piece 19 is released, cap 18 is urged by'spring 19a tothe flame extinguishing position ofFig. 2 where it engages collar 25 andmovesivalve stem 24 longitudinally to close valve 23' across port 22,thereby discontinuing communication between the interior, of con-.tainer 11 and the interior of enclosure 21.

While the engagement of cap 18 with collar 25 efiects an enclosure ofwick end 12b, this enclosure is not posi- .tively sealed, and over asubstantial period of timeevapo- .ration of the fuel in wick .12may'occur. However, due to the separation of the wick' from the mainbody of fuel by means of the valved enclosure. 21, only the relatively:small quantity of fuel within enclosure Hand in wick 1 2 :may thusevaporate. The main reservoir of fuel within container 11 is maintainedavailable for replenishing the fuel in wick 12, which is accomplished bythesimple manipulation of thumb piece 19 to open valve 23 and per- :mitpassage of fuel to the .wick. Q

i As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, means 'for gauging. the ilevel of fluid11 within an opaquecontainer 11.n1'ay be provided comprising elongatedopening 29 in an end wall 11a of the container. .The opening preferablyextends from the lowest desirable. level of fuelin the container to thehighest desirable level thereof. A light transmitting or translucentwindow member :30'is sealingly securedto the container to extend acrossthe opening, and in the preferred form of Figs. 1, '2 and-4, is shown tocomprise a tube having ends 313a and 30b opening 'into' the interior 9sq e a d a s rai ht mi -P9 9 30c ub ta tially centered in opening 29 toextend semi-cylindrically exteriorly of the container. If desired, theportion of'tube 30 interiorly of container 11: may be made reflecting oropaque to provide an improved background for viewing the level of fuel11 within the tube.

A modified form of liquid level indicator is shown in Fig. 5 wherein anelongated opening 31 is defined by a depressed flange 31a forming acontinuous shoulder 31b for sealing abutment witha generally planarwindow member 32. Member 32'is arranged .to project slightly outwardlyfrom the container wall. Opening 31 may be aligned with enclosure 21allowing observation of the fluid level relative to the enclosure aswell as relative to'the entire container. This extends the range ofusefulness of the window down to the point'where the supply is so low asto require tilting of the container.

Referring now to Figure 6 through 9, another form of pyrophoric lighter.generally designated 110 is seen-to comprise a container 111 received ina shell112and provided with a'wick 113 similar to wick 12 extending-fromthe interior of container 111 to the exterior thereof. The upper endofthe shell is releasably secured to cradle 114 on which is mountedan-operating mechanism '115 similar to mechanism 15 of lighter 10. V e

Container 111 is separable from the lighter and is of a'disposableconstruction. The term disposable as usal herein comprehends a structurewhich is economically suited for discarding subsequent to its use. Thus,container 111 is of a type which'may be provided with suitable fluidfuel 111" therein, installed in the lig'hter'110, and after, the fuel isused up thrown away and replaced'with another similar container filledwith fuel. This type of container 'is to be distinguished from acontainer which forms an integral part of the lighter and requiresrefilling when the fluid supply is depleted.

Container 111 is received within an upwardly opening hollow 112a ofshell 112 and is retained therein by means of the cradle 114 which isheld releasably in place across the top of shell 112 by a'tongiie 116cooperating with a catch 116a on the shell. A manually operable tab 11Gb(similar to tab 150 oflighter 10) may be pr vided for eifecting removalof the cradle when desired to permit replacement of the container in.theshell. To permit the insertion of the container past catch 116a, agroove 11% maybe formed in one end of the container, extendinglongitudinally betwecn'the top anl bottom'of the container.

Container 111 is disposed in hollow 1120 with wick 113 extendingupwardly" therefrom. Cradle 114 is provided with an opening 114a throughwhich the wick extends when the cradle is disposed across'the top of theshell. The association of operating mechanism I IS and wick 113 issimilar to the association of mechanismIS and wick 12 of lighter 10.However, while enclosure 21 of lighter 10 is not disassociatedfromcontainer 11 when replenishing the fuel 11' therein, an enclosure 117 isprovided in lighter which is removably associated with the disposablecontainer lllthereby allowing the enclosure 117 to be retained whenthespent container is discorded. To this end, the upper end 117a ofenclosure 117 is threadedly secured to a-reduce'd diameter portion of abushing 118 which while being somewhat'larger in diameter is otherwisegenerally similar to bushing 26 of lighter 1 0. V

The top container 111' is provided with an Qp 119which may be closed,priar to its use in the lighter, by means of a removable plug 120. lnthe illustrative embodiment, opening 119'is elongated longitudlnally andthreaded for improved retaining coaction wrthplug and with bushing 118,it being understood tha t other structures providing suitable sealingretention of these elements in opening 119 may be substituted wrthrn thescope of the invention. 7 H j g 9 Enclosure 117 functions similarly asenclosure-21 of lighter 10, being provided with a port "121, valve 122and spring 123 similar to port 22, valve 23 and spring 27 respectivelyof lighter 10. Thus, except for the replaceable fuel supply container,the functioning of lighter 110 is sustantially similar to that oflighter 10.

Container 111 is preferably formed of a transparent material, such as aplastic, and shell 112 may be provided with a transparent window 124 inone end 111a of the container in alignment with enclosure 117 to allowviewing of the interior of container 111 similar to the permittedviewing of the interior of container 11.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A pyrophoric lighter, comprising: a container adapted to hold fluidfuel and having an outlet; a wick extending through the outlet to havean outer portion exteriorly of the container and an inner portion tohave communication with fuel interiorly of the container; an enclosuresurrounding said inner portion having a port for conducting fuel in saidcontainer to said wick inner portion within the enclosure; valve meanscontrolling the port, including a tubular valve stem surrounding theinner wick portion and projecting through said outlet to have an annularouter end disposed exteriorly of the container; means within theenclosure yieldably biasing the valve stem to urge the valve to a portopened position; and means exteriorly of the container for engaging saidstem outer end and releasably holding the valve in a port closedposition.

2. A pyrophoric lighter comprising: a disposable container for holdingfluid fuel; means carried by the container for transferring fuel fromWithin said container to a point exteriorly thereof; a cradle havingmeans thereon for operating the lighter; and means for maintaining thecontainer and fuel transferring means in operative association with themeans for operating the lighter, comprising a shell removably receivingthe container and having an open top and a catch adjacent said top, anda spring tongue on the cradle, said catch and tongue serving to lockreleasably the cradle across said top of the shell.

3. The pyrophoric lighter of claim 2 wherein the container is providedwith a groove to permit movement of the container past the catch.

4. A pyrophoric lighter comprising: a cradle member having an openingtherethrough; an operating mechanism carried on the cradle; a shellremovably secured to the cradle opposite said operating mechanism andhaving a hollow communicating with the opening; a disposable, fluid fuelcontainer in said hollow; means associated with the shell for holdingthe container removably therein; wick means removably secured to thecontainer and extending through the cradle opening into operativerelationship with the operating mechanism; and means associated with thewick means for preventing communication between the fuel in thecontainer and the wick whenever the operating mechanism is not beingoperated, said wick means and last named means being removable throughsaid cradle opening when desired.

5. The lighter of claim 1 wherein the container is provided with a wallopposite the outlet and the enclosure extends from the outlet to have atransverse inner end closely juxtaposed to said Wall, said port beingdisposed in said transverse inner end and the space between saidenclosure inner end and said wall being free of mechanism to permit freeflow of fuel in the container to the port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,584,258 Thorens May 11, 1926 1,622,058 Margraft Mar. 13, 19281,872,346 Rogers Aug. 16, 1932 2,507,202 Finch May 9, 1950 2,521,180Morse Sept. 5, 1950 2,576,453 Fortin Nov. 17, 1951 2,583,691 FlormanJan. 29, 1952 2,592,980 Van Wert Apr. 15, 1952 2,603,076 Fukal July 15,1952 2,609,692 Ahlgren Sept. 9, 1952 2,617,286 Prusack Nov. 11, 19522,692,493 Hepburn Oct. 26, 1954 2,791,110 Gellman May 7, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 144,209 Austria Jan. 10, 1936 1,052,117 France Sept. 23, 1953885,319 Germany Aug. 3, 1953 28,417 Great Britain July 30, 1908 28,419Great Britain July 30, 1908 242,905 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1946 243,420Switzerland Dec. 16, 1946

